1. Accumulation mechanism of mantle-derived helium resources in petroliferous basins, eastern China.
- Author
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Wang, Xiaofeng, Liu, Quanyou, Liu, Wenhui, Zhang, Dongdong, Li, Xiaofu, and Zhao, Dong
- Subjects
GAS reservoirs ,HYDROCARBON reservoirs ,HELIUM ,CARBONATE minerals ,NATURAL gas ,SEDIMENTARY basins ,GAS analysis ,ALKANES - Abstract
A series of marginal-sea basins and fault-depression basins were formed in eastern China under the background of subduction of the West Pacific plate. Different types of helium-rich natural gas reservoirs (He>1000 ppm, 1 ppm=1 µmol mol
−1 ) have been found in these basins: helium-rich CO2 gas reservoirs, helium-rich N2 gas reservoirs, and helium-rich hydrocarbon gas reservoirs. Based on the analysis of gas geochemical data, the source and accumulation mechanism of helium in these helium-rich natural gas reservoirs were discussed. Helium-rich natural gas has relatively high3 He/4 He ratios (0.88–4.91 Ra, average 2.82 Ra). The3 He/4 He ratio characteristics of mantle xenoliths and mantle-derived CO2 gas reservoirs indicate that the helium in these helium-rich natural gas reservoirs is mainly mantle-derived (>70%). The original mantle volatile is mainly CO2 with a low helium concentration (He<200 ppm), and the enrichment of mantle-derived helium in the gas reservoir is mainly related to the dissolution and mineralization of CO2 . During this process, the CO2 /3 He ratio decreases from 2×109 to approximately 2×106 . As CO2 dissolves and mineralizes, the concentration of conservative gases (He and N2 ) increases in the remaining CO2 gas proportionally to the loss of CO2 . Large amounts of carbonate minerals, such as dawsonite, which are relatively enriched in13 C, are found in CO2 reservoirs in eastern China. The relative enrichment of12 C in residual CO2 gas is important evidence of the dissolution and mineralization of CO2 . The relative abundance of mantle-derived helium and N2 gas increases thousands of times during the dissolution and mineralization of CO2 , which is the main accumulation mechanism of mantle-derived helium-rich CO2 gas reservoirs and helium-rich N2 gas reservoirs. Helium-rich gas from the mantle is mixed with alkane gas generated by organic matter in the sedimentary basin to form helium-rich hydrocarbon gas reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
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